5 8 THE OX AND ITS KINDRED 
interesting to note that the colour of the animal is 
dark slaty grey. The value of this is, however, 
considerably discounted by the fact that the tiger on 
the right side of the panel is coloured of a nearly 
similar tint ; possibly, however, this may have been 
done to make the colouring of the two sides of the 
picture accord. 
Returning to classic literature, evidence has been 
brought forward by Dr. C. Keller,^ of Zurich, to show 
that the famous legend of the Cretan minotaur is 
founded on the aurochs. In a corner of the so-called 
throne-room of the palace of King Minos, at Knossus, 
in Crete, Dr. Keller discovered part of a skull and 
numerous horn-cores of oxen, which from their large 
size are referred to the aurochs. The skull shows 
unmistakable signs of burning. These relics, to- 
gether with others from localities in the neighbour- 
hood all belonging to the Minos period, have been 
deposited in the museum at Candia. In addition to 
these bones, evidence of the former existence of the 
aurochs in Crete is afforded by the discovery of 
sketches of that animal, estimated to date from about 
2000 B.C. There is also the head of a bull modelled 
in black steatite, which is stated to be a truthful, 
although rude, portrait of the aurochs ; and of still 
more importance is a marble bas-relief depicting in 
a lifelike manner the same animal in its entirety. 
In the palace of King Minos there is also a painting 
of the aurochs, in which the characteristic form of the 
horns is unmistakable ; and it is interesting to note 
that, while the head and body of the animal are 
shown as sepia-brown in colour, the horns are nearly 
^ "Die ausgestorbene Fauna von Kreta," Vurteljahrsche Nat. 
Ges. Zurich^ vol. liv. pp. 424-435, 1909. 
